The most notable awards and accolades Masekela racked up over his career
Ramapolo Hugh Masekela played the trumpet for 64 years, and has been duly honoured for his talents.
Hugh Masekela
His musical influence comes from watching the film Young Man with a Horn at age 14. The film inspired Masekela to start playing the trumpet.
Many years of Masekela’s musical career coincided with apartheid. Masekela reacted to the country’s plight by making his music a symbol of struggle, conflict, anger and sorrow during this time.
After the Sharpeville massacre in 1960, Masekela left South Africa to study the trumpet, attending London’s Guildhall School of Music, as well as the Manhattan School of Music in New York.
With such recognised influences and experiences, Masekela’s music was awarded countless times.
Hugh Masekela with Miriam Makeba and Paul Simon in 1987
Here are some of his most notable successes:
Nominated for a Grammy Award in 1968 for Best Contemporary Pop Performance – instrumental.
Nominated for Broadway’s 1988 Tony Award for Best Score for Sarafina
International Award of the Year in 2002 at the BBC Radio Jazz Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 at Channel O Music Video Awards
2007 African Music Legend award at the Ghana Music Awards
Nominated for a Grammy Award in 2010 for his album Jabulani in the Best World Music Category
Received the Order of Ikhamanga (a South African honour, awarded by the President of South Africa) at the 2010 South African National Orders Ceremony
Awarded Honorary Doctorate in Music at the University of York in 2014
Awarded a Doctor of Music at Rhodes University in 2015
Masekela also founded Musicians and Artists Assistance Programme of South Africa (MAAPSA) in 1998. This comes after Masekela admitting to his battles with substance abuse. The nonprofit organisation assists and provides counselling for many artists, and boasts a 70% successful recovery rate.
Sources: Artlink, SA History
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